Method and apparatus for determining a group call wait time

Abstract

A user initiates a group call from an initiating communication device to a plurality of group call recipients' communication devices. Then, a processor circuit determines a wait time for commencing communication of the group call according to a predetermined function. The predetermined function is based least in part on status information for at least a portion of the group call recipients wherein the status information includes a likelihood of participation in the group call. The status information used as part of the predetermined function may include various factors relevant to the likelihood of or expecting timing of a group call recipient's joining the call. Perceived delays can be further reduced by storing group call media prior to sending the media to or playing the media at a particular group call recipients' communication devices.

1 . A method comprising:
 initiating a group call from an initiating communication device to a plurality of group call recipients' communication devices;   determining a wait time for commencing communication of the group call according to a predetermined function based at least in part on status information for at least a portion of the group call recipients wherein the status information comprises at least in part a likelihood of participation in the group call.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein commencing communication of the group call comprises sending media from the initiating communication device. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising providing an alert at the initiating communication device in response to an expiration of the wait time. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein commencing communication of the group call comprises communicating media to at least one of the group call recipients' communication devices in response to an expiration of the wait time. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising storing at least a portion of the media to one or more of a group comprising:
 the initiating mobile communication device prior to commencing the communication, wherein commencing the communication occurs in response to an expiration of the wait time;   a communication system server prior to commencing the communication, wherein commencing the communication occurs in response to an expiration of the wait time.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein commencing communication of the group call comprises playing media at least one of the group call recipients' communication devices in response to an expiration of the wait time and further comprising storing at least a portion of the media at the at least one of the group call recipients' communication devices prior to commencing communication. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein commencing communication of the group call comprises allowing input access to the group call for at least one of the group call recipients. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising providing an alert to at least one of the group call recipients' communications devices approximately upon completion of the wait time, wherein the at least one of the group call recipients communication devices is alerted to being allowed input access to the group call. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined function comprises determining the wait time to factor in expected response times in joining a call according to the status information. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the status information comprises one or more of a group comprising:
 a necessity of participation for a group call recipient;   a group call recipient's communication device status;   a group call recipient status;   a history for the group call recipient;   a substantially present availability of a predetermined number of group call recipients;   a number of targets;   a radio frequency technology of a group call recipient's communication device;   a paging offset;   a communication system status.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein when the status information comprises the necessity of participation for a group call recipient, the predetermined function comprises determining the wait time to provide time for substantially all necessary group call recipients to join the group call. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein a determination of the necessity of participation for a group call recipient for commencing communication of the group call is provided at the initiating communication device. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the group call recipient's communication device status comprises one or more of a group comprising:
 active with a headset;   active within reach of a user;   moving among cells;   in a standby-mode;   a land-line device.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the group call recipient status comprises one or more of a group comprising:
 a location identifier;   a personal accessibility identifier.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined function comprises prioritizing group call recipients that are determined to not be necessary for commencing communication of the group call according to a predetermined prioritizing function based at least in part on the status information for the group call recipients that are determined to not be necessary for commencing communication of the group call. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined function comprises determining the wait time according to an expected delay before a predetermined number of group call recipients joins the group call. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising storing the status information in one or more of the group comprising:
 the initiating communication device;   a communications system server;   a group call recipient's communication device.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising executing at least a portion of the predetermined function in one or more of the group comprising:
 the initiating communication device;   a communications system server;   a group call recipient's communication device.   
   
   
       19 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first processor configured and arranged to initiate a group call from an initiating communication device to a plurality of group call recipients;   a second processor configured and arranged to determine a wait time for commencing communication of the group call according to a predetermined function based at least in part on status information for at least a portion of the group call recipients.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first processor comprises means for initiating a group call from an initiating communication device to a plurality of group call recipients and the second processor comprises means for determining a wait time for commencing communication of the group call according to a predetermined function based at least in part on status information for at least a portion of the group call recipients. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the means for determining further comprises:
 a processor circuit integral with the initiating communication device, wherein the processor circuit executes the predetermined function; and   a memory circuit in operative communication with the processor circuit, wherein the memory circuit stores at least a portion of the status information.